Senate approves Romney’s bipartisan bill to protect saline lake ecosystems

The U.S. Senate last week unanimously passed bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) to establish protections for saline lake ecosystems in his home state.

“This legislation will complement and help elevate the work already being done by the State of Utah to understand this key resource and the role it plays as part of the larger landscape,” Sen. Romney said. “I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this legislation immediately so we can save this iconic and cherished part of Utah.”

The Senate-approved Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2021, S. 1466, would require the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring Program. Under the program, the USGS must assess, monitor, and conserve saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin, as well as the wildlife that depend on those ecosystems, according to the congressional record bill summary.

Sen. Romney cosponsored S. 1466 in April 2021 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The identical bill, H.R. 5345, was introduced in September 2021 by U.S. Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT) and Jared Huffman (D-CA) in the U.S. House.

“I was proud to lead this legislation with Senator Merkley, which will establish a scientific foundation and ongoing monitoring system to inform coordinated management and conservation actions for threatened Great Basin saline lake ecosystems and the communities who depend on them,” said Sen. Romney.

“I am thrilled the Senate unanimously passed my bill with Senator Romney,” said Rep. Moore. “It is imperative that we take steps to preserve these precious resources, and I am grateful the Senate chose to support these efforts.”

The congressman added that S. 1466 now differs slightly from H.R. 5345, which on July 19 was amended and then passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. He now looks forward to “working tirelessly to advance it through the House.”

Specifically, the amended H.R. 5345 passed the House as part of a larger drought and wildfire package, and because the Senate-approved S. 1466 is unamended, it now heads back to the House for passage.

“With the Great Salt Lake currently at the lowest levels ever recorded, we must do whatever is necessary to save it,” said Sen. Romney.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and the National Audubon Society support the bill.